Midyear and transfer students arrive on campus to start their Brandeis journeys

The newest Brandeisians arrive on campus

Energetic Orientation Leaders welcomed midyear and transfer students to campus.

By Julian Cardillo ’14Jan. 18, 2017

The newest members of the Brandeis family arrived in warm spirits on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 for midyear and transfer student orientation.

The incoming Brandeisians include 102 midyears and 33 transfer students from 28 states and 12 countries. There was a collective excitement on campus as the new students arrived to begin a new journey that promises to change their lives.

Orientation Leaders—also known as OLs—were on hand, donned in royal blue sweatshirts, bustling energetically about the campus to meet their new classmates, give directions, and help move new students into their rooms in the Village Residence Halls.

At the start of each semester, orientation consists of a variety of activities and events that have been designed by OLs to help new students get more familiar with Brandeis’ academics, resources, culture and social scene.

“I’m a strong believer in going to the orientation programs—even at the most basic level, going to the programs gives you a routine in your first days, gives you a chance to meet more people, and it gives you a chance to show up to something,” says Sydney Derfel Sahasrabudhe ’17, a member of the orientation core committee, who offered even more advice to midyear students.

The day then transitioned to the Usdan Student Center for a program called “Taste of Brandeis,” which included a special brunch cooked by Sodexo chefs. After enjoying their meals, new students had the opportunity to meet with a number of administrative and student-focused groups on campus such as Public Safety, the Health Center and the Multifaith Chaplaincy.

The afternoon began inside the Shapiro Campus Center for the convocation “Brandeis Beginnings,” a special welcome ceremony with President Ron Liebowitz and Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel.

Following the convocation, the students said goodbye to their families and set out to join the campus community and begin their Brandeis experience.